This NOAA satellite image taken Sunday shows Hurricane Sandy off the Mid Atlantic coastline moving toward the north with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph. Tens of thousands of people were ordered to evacuate coastal areas Sunday as big cities and small towns across the U.S. Northeast braced for the onslaught of a superstorm threatening some 60 million people along the most heavily populated corridor in the nation. (AP Photo/Weather Underground)

"We did something extraordinary today," he said. "We did it because I did not believe people were taking it seriously."

"We're looking at impact of greater than 50 to 60 million people," said Louis Uccellini, head of environmental prediction for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

As Hurricane Sandy trekked north from the Caribbean -- where it left nearly five dozen dead -- to meet two other powerful winter storms, experts said it didn't matter how strong the storm was when it hit land: The rare hybrid storm that follows will cause havoc over 800 miles, from the East Coast to the Great Lakes.

Malloy on Saturday declared a state of emergency for Connecticut, "due to the severe weather conditions predicted to affect the state."

The declaration provides Malloy with emergency powers that include the authority to modify or suspend any state law, regulation or requirement.

The governor apprised President Barack Obama of the situation during a phone call earlier Sunday. The president, Malloy said, was aware of the emergency declaration.

By Sunday night, Obama had approved Malloy's request to declare a pre-landfall emergency in Connecticut, which allows the state to request federal funding and other assistance in advance of Hurricane Sandy's impact on the state.

"I would like to thank President Obama for understanding the necessity of declaring an emergency in our state in advance of the storm," Malloy said. "As each forecast has come in, it's become more and more clear that this storm will have a major impact in Connecticut. We cannot wait until after it hits to begin the process of seeking emergency assistance."

In New Haven, Mayor John DeStefano Jr. announced a state of emergency during a press conference Sunday at the Emergency Operations Center at 200 Orange St.

"Tomorrow night, midnight, we expect to be 10 feet over high tide. Now, as a frame of reference, (Tropical Storm) Irene was 5 to 6 feet over.

"Our vulnerability, therefore, is going to be flooding and downed power lines and loss of power as a result. We'll expect to see this around Union Station, Route 34, Middletown Avenue, Quinnipiac Avenue, City Point, Morris Cove, Fair Haven, Long Wharf and parts of Blake Street."

Late Saturday afternoon, East Haven and Fairfield had ordered mandatory evacuations of flood-prone areas for Sunday. Evacuations in East Haven were scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., while Fairfield's began at noon.

East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr. said East Haven High School, at 35 Wheelbarrow Lane, will be serve as a shelter for residents and their pets. The shelter opened at noon Sunday.

"Residents who relocate and take advantage of the shelter should remember to bring toiletries, bedding and important documents, including identification, with them," Maturo said in a written statement.

Old Saybrook officials Saturday declared a state of emergency and were urging residents to voluntarily evacuate from homes south of Route 1 starting at 8:30 a.m. Sunday.

The town's shelter at Old Saybrook Senior High School, at 1111 Boston Post Road, opened at 5 p.m., town officials said.

Branford joined other Shoreline towns in ordering mandatory evacuations for all coastal areas and offshore islands, including areas along the Branford River and anywhere homeowners experienced flooding during Tropical Storm Irene.

Residents were required to evacuate no later than 8 p.m. Sunday.

Shelters opened beginning at 4 p.m. at Branford High School, 185 E. Main St. and Mary T. Murphy School, at 14 Brushy Plain Road, for those with pets.

On Sunday evening, New Haven firefighters were going door to door, urging residents of the City Point area to evacuate before 8 a.m. today.

Frank Torres, a City Point resident for 30 years, was boarding up the windows of his South Water Street home in preparation for the storm. His grandson, Angelo Ramirez, said although he's "not that concerned," they would heed warnings.

"He would leave if he has to," Ramirez said of his grandfather.

Next to Torres, Gregory Devlin and his mother, Jennifer Polino, couldn't agree about what to do.